The University of Alaska Southeast is expanding partnerships to increase resources and support for students and employees under Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), federal laws designed to protect against discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence and stalking.
For the last two years, UAS and Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE) have partnered on training and programming opportunities for students and employees.
Starting January 2017, AWARE will also be offering advocacy services Monday afternoons on the Juneau campus. Confidential resources include counselors, health care providers, advocates and clergy. Under federal law, designated confidential resources are not required to report incidents of sexual misconduct to the Title IX office. Instead, they provide a safe place for students and employees to talk about what’s happening to them or to someone they are concerned about, and get options. UAS has three employees designated as confidential resources in the Health and Wellness Center. AWARE staff will provide a fourth option.
UAS and the Juneau Police Department are also expanding their partnership. JPD currently operates a substation on the Juneau campus. This month UAS and JPD signed an agreement to increase training between the two organizations in order to enhance cooperation during any joint sexual misconduct investigations. Victims of sexual misconduct who are UAS students or employees have rights under the law as well as administrative rights through the university system.
For more information about Title IX services at UAS visit: uas.alaska.edu/policies/titleix.html.
